Moving Soil At Thompsonville Firehouse Site Focus Of Council Meeting

ENFIELD — The head of a taxpayers group that has sued over the construction of the new Thompsonville firehouse asked the council Tuesday night to delay any plans to remove soil that has been dug up on the site until a court make its decision.

Jeffrey Cross, president of the Concerned Taxpayers of the Thompsonville Fire Department, also asked the council to make public any future agreements regarding decisions on the moving the soil.

Cross' group filed a lawsuit that could halt to construction of the new Thompsonville firehouse and force a referendum on the fire district's approved annual budget; the suit was the subject of a hearing on Friday. A decision in the case could be made by Sept. 20, Cross said.

The taxpayers group formed as a result of a move made by district commission member Robert Gillespie and Chairman Dominic Alaimo that allowed the board of commissioners to approve the $3.9 million annual budget without a public vote.

"We feel confident we will prevail in our case," Cross said.

He said that if his group wins the case, and the fire district commissioners appeal, the taxpayers' group will keep fighting.

"This will continue and it will be expedited to the Connecticut Supreme Court since this is a political issue," said Cross.

Council member Carol Hall raised questions about the agreement made with the fire district over moving the soil, as well as who the council will be dealing with legally, now that there are only two commissioners.

Deputy Mayor Ken R. Nelson said that he believes the fire department has the go-ahead to start construction and that he thinks the town should house the soil now sitting on the property until the court proceedings have been resolved.

In other action at the council meeting, Eagle Scout Candidate Trey Pierce sought and received approval to start working on a project that involves building movable, wheelchair-accessible benches for use during town events. Pierce said he plans to start fundraising at a pig roast later tentatively scheduled for Aug. 28 at the South Road Lodge.